By Kim Yates
Halloween is a scary time of year, especially for food allergy parents. During Halloween, the chance of peanut-induced anaphylaxis increases by 85%. Many popular candies that do not contain peanuts still contain many other top allergens like wheat, milk, soy and even egg because they are used in many chocolate, caramel and fruit candies.
Kim Yates, a food allergy parent and co-founder of Latitude Food Allergy Care, shares seven tips to keep your food allergy child safe this Halloween:
1.) Wait to eat candy until you get home
While trick-or-treating in the dark, it is easy to misread or not even see the ingredient on a candy wrapper. The best thing to do is check all candy at home before any is eaten. If you or your child can’t wait to dive into your sweet treats, having a flashlight with you can help you get a good view of the labels if you have any concerns.
2.) Don’t choose costumes that cover the face
With minimal lighting and children running fast to collect their candy, it may be harder to notice an allergic reaction immediately. Masks or face paint can make it even more difficult to see if your child is having a reaction to something. It is best, especially for younger children, to choose a costume that leaves their face fully exposed.
3.) Don’t assume familiar candies are safe
Some candies have different ingredients for their fun-size and their full-sized versions. The ingredients or manufacturing processes may change just because of the sizes of the candy. Fun-size versions don’t always have ingredients or potential allergens listed on the package, so it is important to know what candies are safe for your children. Take the time to check each candy, even if it has been safe in the past.
4.) Ask about that Teal Pumpkin
The Teal Pumpkin Project® is a campaign by Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) that aims to raise awareness for food allergy families to create a safer Halloween for all trick-or-treaters. Houses with teal pumpkins let food allergy children know that they offer non-food treats like toys, stickers and games. If you see a blue pumpkin, you will want to double-check that they are participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project, not to be confused with blue pumpkins for autism awareness.
5.) Communicate with the other parents
If you are going trick-or-treating with other families who don’t have food allergies, make sure they understand what cross-contamination can mean for your child. See if they are willing to also wait to eat candy so that sticky fingers don’t pass something along unintentionally.
6.) Always bring Epinephrine
Don’t forget to pack two Epinephrine injectors with you while you are out trick-or-treating. Food allergy specialists recommend packing two injectors in case one dose of epinephrine is not enough for a severe reaction or a second wave of allergy symptoms.
7.) What you can do with leftover Candy
Candy that your child can’t eat after all their work trick-or-treating doesn’t have to go to waste. You can set up a Switch Witch with your kids to swap out their candy for stickers, toys, or other treats that are allergen-free for your child. You can also donate your unopened Halloween candy to organizations like Treats for Troops, Operation Gratitude and the Ronald McDonald House. The candy will go to good use and your child will know they are doing something kind for others.
Oral immunotherapy (OIT) treatment has been proven to desensitize the body in people with food allergies, by routinely exposing the patient to increasing amounts of the foods they are allergic to. Xolair (omalizumab) is also available for protection against food allergy reactions. Both treatments can decrease dietary restrictions and protect against severe or life-threatening reactions due to accidental exposures.
For additional information, please visit, Latitude Food Allergy Care.
